"I just wanted to finish the season the way I thought it deserved to be finished," McIlroy told reporters.

"I've played so well throughout the year, and I didn't want to just let it tail off sort of timidly. I wanted to come here and finish in style. I was able to do it.

"Obviously going out today, myself and Luke (Donald) were tied for the lead, and we both didn't get off to the greatest of starts.

"And then Justin had that incredible back nine, shot 62, and I knew midway through the back nine I needed to do something special.

"Somehow I summoned up the energy from somewhere to make five birdies in the last five holes. It's just a great way to end this tournament, a great way to end the season, and I am already excited about 2013.

"It means a lot to me to win in this fashion, as well. I guess in a way, Justin gave me the opportunity to do what I did.

'Wozilroy' struggling in Singapore rain 5 photos

'Wozilroy' struggling in Singapore rain5 photos

Go Rory! – Caroline Wozniacki watches boyfriend Rory McIlroy during the continuation of the weather-delayed first round of the Singapore Open.

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'Wozilroy' struggling in Singapore rain5 photos

Early rise – The Danish tennis star tweeted that she had not enjoyed having to get up at 5.15 a.m. as McIlroy got ready to resume the tournament.

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'Wozilroy' struggling in Singapore rain5 photos

'Wozilroy' reunited – McIlroy took a break last week to watch Wozniacki's final tournament of the year, and she returned the compliment as he returned to action following his "Duel at Jinsha Lake" against Tiger Woods.

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'Wozilroy' struggling in Singapore rain5 photos

Stormy weather – Half of the tournament's players were unable to start their second rounds on Friday due to ongoing rain delays and the threat of lightning.

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'Wozilroy' struggling in Singapore rain5 photos

Big incentive – McIlroy is struggling with illness as he seeks to clinch a notable money list double on both the European and U.S. PGA Tours, emulating Luke Donald's feat last year.

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Duel at Jinsha Lake 11 photos

Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

Golden Gong – Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods look on in amusement before banging a ceremonial gong to mark the start of their "Duel at Jinsha Lake."

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Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

Tiger Paw – Both McIlroy and Woods, pictured above, had their handprints immortalized in clay as a lavish ceremony featuring drum majorettes and fireworks preceded their clash in the Chinese city Zhengzhou.

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Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

Number One – World No. 1 McIlroy cannot keep a straight face as the players pose at the first green, ahead of a clash reported to be paying the pair a combined total of $2 million.

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Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

"Barely-controlled chaos" – "The scene was barely-controlled chaos," wrote Sports Illustrated's Alan Shipnuck. "Some 3,000 fans streamed across the fairways, with soldiers locking arms in a human fence to keep the throngs off the greens."

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Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

High Jinks – A course marshall practices kung fu as she awaits the golfers' arrival.

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Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

Firing Line – "On the tee boxes there were so many camera clicks it sounded like machine gun fire," Shipnuck wrote.

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Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

Model Display – Local golf fans talk with one of the models who inhabited the greens in their evening wear in scenes seldom seen on any golf course.

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Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

Water Hazard – Woods tries to maintain focus as a luxury boat passes by, with the clubhouse car park also boasting a collection of Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, Aston Martins and Maseratis.

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Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

Next Generation? – Young fans show their support for McIlroy and Woods in a country that is seen as the next great market for golf to conquer.

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Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

On the Charge – McIlroy never trailed Woods after starting with a birdie, going on to card a five-under-par 67 -- one less than the world No. 2.

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Duel at Jinsha Lake11 photos

Job Done – McIlroy awaits his trophy on a day that coincided with the launch of the multi-million-dollar "Golf Villas" to be built around the Jinsha Lake course.

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Presidential candidates' sporting endorsements 8 photos

Presidential candidates' sporting endorsements8 photos

Celebrity backing – Cristiano Ronaldo, who says he admires Barack Obama's communication skills and honesty, has scored 16 goals in just 12 games for Real Madrid this season.

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Presidential candidates' sporting endorsements8 photos

Red Democrats – Ronaldo and former Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney have both revealed their support for Barack Obama in the U.S. Presidential race, with neither previously known for their political leanings.

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Presidential candidates' sporting endorsements8 photos

Get in the ... House – Golf legend Jack Nicklaus believes Mitt Romney's business acumen will provide a brighter future for his children and grandchildren in the financially-troubled United States.

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Presidential candidates' sporting endorsements8 photos

King James anoints Obama – NBA star LeBron James has shrugged off concerns he could damage his raft of endorsements by packing one of the candidates. The Miami Heat small forward tweeted his backing for President Obama.

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Presidential candidates' sporting endorsements8 photos

A Question of faith – Basketballer Carmelo Anthony, seen here celebrating 2012 Olympic gold, is in no doubt as to who he can trust, helping Obama during a fund-raising day in New York in August.

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Presidential candidates' sporting endorsements8 photos

Youthful backing – Golfer Rickie Fowler, 23, recently declared his support for Romney, so earning the ire of some of his 400,000 followers on Twitter.

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Presidential candidates' sporting endorsements8 photos

Mays the best candidate win – Willie Mays, one of baseball's all-time greats, has thrown his backing behind Obama, along with Hank Aaron, a fellow legend of the sport.

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Presidential candidates' sporting endorsements8 photos

Miracle Man – Michael Eruzione, who captained the United States' ice hockey team to their stunning 'Miracle on Ice' victory over the Soviet Union in 1980, is introduced at the Republican National Convention in August, when he gave his backing to Romney.

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"I guess seeing a target there and shooting at something, it definitely makes you more focused."

The 23-under-par 265 recorded by McIlroy matched the lowest four-round aggregate in the four-year history of the tournament -- set by Lee Westwood in 2009.